South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher claimed a world record for Test catches on the first day of the first Test against Pakistan at Centurion Park on Thursday -- but said his objective was to break the record for total dismissals.
Playing in his 100th Test, Boucher took his 367th catch when he held a simple chance from Faisal Iqbal, his second victim in Pakistan's innings. The visitors ended the day on 245-5.
Boucher moved ahead of Australia's Ian Healy, who took 366 catches in 119 matches.
PHOTO: EPA
Healy still holds the record for most dismissals as he made 29 stumpings in his career for a total of 395.
Boucher, who has 15 stumpings, moved into second place with a total of 382 dismissals, one more than Australia's Adam Gilchrist, who has held 344 catches and made 37 stumpings in 90 Tests.
"I haven't been aware of the most catches," Boucher said. "I have been aware of the most dismissals and that's something I've been eyeing."
Boucher said he and Gilchrist were "having a bit of a race" to get past Healy's record.
"I've probably got my nose in front at the moment because I have a couple more Tests to play [this season] and he's finished with his Test cricket for a while," he said.
Asked to compare himself with other leading wicketkeepers, Boucher paid special tribute to Gilchrist.
"He's taken wicketkeeping and batting to a new level. He's set the standard for a lot of guys. Kumar Sangakkara I rate more for his batting but he does a great job for Sri Lanka with the gloves as well, Boucher said.
"Myself and [New Zealand's] Brendon McCullum are more `keeping-batters.' If I can do a job down the order with the bat, which I think I have done down the years, then I'm a satisfied cricketer."
Boucher has played in 99 Tests for South Africa and one for the World XI against Australia last season. He held two of his catches for the World team.
College basketballer Kaitlyn Chen has become the first female player of Taiwanese descent to be drafted by a WNBA team, after the Golden State Valkyries selected her in the third and final round of the league’s draft on Monday. Chen, a point guard who played her first three seasons in college for Princeton University, transferred to the University of Connecticut (UConn) for her final season, which culminated in a national championship earlier this month. While at Princeton, Chen was named the Ivy League tournament’s most outstanding player three times from 2022 to last year. Prior to the draft, ESPN described Chen as
College basketballer Kaitlyn Chen (陳凱玲) has become the first player of Taiwanese descent to be drafted by a WNBA team, after being selected by the Golden State Valkyries in the third and final round of the league's draft yesterday. Chen, a point guard who played her first three seasons in college for Princeton University, transferred to the University of Connecticut (UConn) for her final season, which culminated in a national championship on April 6. While at Princeton, Chen was named the Ivy League tournament's most outstanding player three times from 2022 to last year. Prior to the draft, ESPN described Chen as a
Robinson Cano spent 17 seasons playing in the MLB in front of all kinds of baseball fans, but he said there is something special about his stint with the Mexican Baseball League’s Diablos Rojos. He is not alone. The league last week opened its 100th season, aiming to keep an impressive growth in attendance that began after the national team’s surprise run at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, and is already surpassing some first-division soccer clubs. After finishing third in the 2023 tournament, many casual fans, some of them soccer enthusiasts disappointed after Mexico were eliminated in the first round in the 2022
Arne Slot has denied that Darwin Nunez was dropped from Liverpool’s win against West Ham because of a training-ground row with a member of his coaching staff. The Liverpool head coach on Sunday last week said that Nunez was absent from the 2-1 victory at Anfield, having felt unwell during training the day before, although the striker sat behind the substitutes throughout the game. Speculation has been rife that the Uruguay international, whom Slot criticized for his work rate against Wolves and Aston Villa in February, was left out for disciplinary reasons. Asked on Friday to clarify the situation, Slot said: “He
RSS